Apsattv:

 

Any modern tv with apps that can support an iptv .m3u playlist can use the freeview .m3u that are out there. They use the same streams as the official freeview android stb

 

Of course they are not the same quality as vodatvs official offering.. I don't think user will be let down by vodafone there will be an official offer of some sort people shouldn't panic at this stage

 

In any case i do have backup copys of most of the vodafone tv  .bin firmwares

 

I recall with igloo, sky offered some some to form discount for their pay service when they closed that service. So if it just a discount, an offer probably won't be valid for a large number of VTV users who mainly wanted a reliable freeview device. I ended up returning my igloo box to my retailer for a full refund.  The VTV was $180 so not a cheap device, and one would expect it's functionality  to last a good number of years. I am sure retailers don't want to have to be giving refunds on them if the service being EOL'd. 
IMO Freeview itself could be doing something if this is the case, even if they took it over. Freeview lacks a good reliable freeview streaming device like this, and if they are EOLing the service, then this is at least the third such freeview type product  after Tivo and Igloo where customers devices have stopped working , and IMO NZ Freeview consumers deserve better.

I find the VTV very reliable and a good product. I previously had one of those smartvu ones, and it was a good concept, but unreliable as heck, and I ended up getting a refund on it after it froze one too many times. Not sure how their new one works, but once bitten and all that. But looking for an easy to use device that works out of the box without configuration.